Jim Barnhardt's story of creating a Dream Center in the city of Bismarck, ND starts on May 29, 2016. He woke up with a vision for a meal ministry and services to help those in need firmly planted in his mind. What Jim didn't realize at the time, was it was that vision and direction from God that would kick-start his drive to bring a Dream Center to Bismarck. For the next year, Jim met with many people in the community, including several pastors, church leaders, city officials and the Mayor to discuss this vision.

In 2019, Karla Eisenbeisz, Banquet Director at that time, and Jeannie Messall, former Homeless Coalition Director, made a trip to the Dream Center in Los Angeles CA with Jim. This trip was to confirm Jim's Dream Center application sent several months earlier. By May, Dream Center Bismarck was officially sanctioned.

On June 19th of 2019 the Dream Center Adopt-a-Block program was started in Bismarck, ND. With the help of Bismarck and Mandan Public School staff, locations were strategically chosen to serve the most households.

The Bismarck Adopt-a-Block program was started as a food distribution program going to Jeannette Myhre Elementary and South Central High School in Bismarck, ND and distributing free groceries to those in need. In April of 2020, with the start of COVID-19 and all the hardships it brought to our community, especially to our low-income citizens, the program was expanded to 6 days a week.

To obtain a supply of food, Adopt-a-Block Food Distribution makes stops at area grocery stores including Cash Wise, Dan's SuperMarkets, Natural Grocers, Costco Wholesale and Master Bakery, picking up food that is either surplus or close to the expiration date. We also partner with Great Plains Food Bank who supplies us with local products, as well a large monthly shipment of grocery product.

Fast forward to April 2022, The Dream Center facility officially opened as a center for free meals and an on-site food pantry. Food is the focus, but our hope is that a person will take in other services provided by partnering entities such as ND Job Service, Northland Health Clinic, Bridging the Dental Gap, Memory Cafe and so many more. Dream Center Bismarck is a non-profit organization whose main goal is to bring "Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow".

Internationally there are about 85 Dream Centers, each working in their own community to find unmet needs and to fill them.